TINA MARKOE KINSLOW/Courier-Post Maple Shade's Asian-American population almost tripled in the 1990s. Above, resident Padma Namburi listens to a story at the township library with her son, Manish, 3.

Maple Shade overall minority population 1990: 2,824 2000: 3,378 Change: 182% Maple Shade Asian population 1990: 412 2000: 1,164 Change: 97% Maple Shade black population 1990: 1,077 2000: 1,376 Change: 28% Maple Shade Hispanic population 1990: 431 2000: 850 Change: 97% Source: 2000 Census

Seventeen percent of the township's residents classify themselves as part of an ethnic minority, according to the 2000 Census, an almost 100 percent increase from 1990. By all indications, the number is growing.

"They're coming here to pursue the American dream," Mayor Claire Volpe said.

Blacks and Asians each comprise about seven percent of the township's population. Hispanics comprise another 4.5 percent. All three groups grew here in the 1990s, Asians the most dramatically.

Affordable and diverse

Those who are coming cite affordable houses and apartments, the diverse population, friendly people and proximity to Philadelphia and other employment centers as reasons for coming.

Charles Thomas, owner of Century 21 Thomas Realty on Main Street said the median home price in Maple Shade, which went up 10 percent in the last year, is about $115,000, far less than in neighboring Moorestown or Cherry Hill. He said average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $750 and up per month.

Arun Patel, 39, has owned Good Spirits, a liquor store on Main Street, for 4 1/2 years. Six months ago, he moved his family here from Philadelphia, where he'd been since coming from India in 1982.

After getting a feel of the town for four years as a business owner, Patel was convinced Maple Shade was a good place to live, too.

"The people are nice and friendly here," Patel said. "It's a diversified community."

With a 6-year old son in kindergarten at the Howard R. Yokum School, Patel said the school system was also a draw.

"The schools are nice, and right next door," Patel said.

Temple nearby

As far as cultural institutions, Patel said the trip to his Hindu temple in Philadelphia is not far. And there's an Indian grocery store in Cherry Hill, right on Main Street/Maple Avenue, less than a mile away.

No other ethnic group grew as quickly during the 1990s in Maple Shade as Indians. The Indian population surged 420 percent between 1990 and 2000.

In fact, almost all Asian populations surged in the last decade, with the number of Koreans and Filipinos more than doubling and the number of Chinese increasing 90 percent.

Other groups grow

But other groups grew as well. The Hispanic population nearly doubled.

Lisa Hernandez, 30, born in Puerto Rico, moved here four months ago from Bergen County. A telemarketing job in Mount Laurel brought her to South Jersey. After living for a short time with her father about eight years ago, she now rents an apartment here.

"I moved back here, to Maple Shade, because it was easy to get a good apartment here," Hernandez said. "That was really the main reason, not that I used to live here or anything."

Embracing diversity

Mayor Volpe, a lifelong resident, has noticed the township becoming more diverse and credits the affordable housing, good schools and location as reasons people are drawn here. She thinks more diversity is a good thing for Maple Shade.

"I believe the children benefit by having the different cultures in the school. . . . It opens their horizons to see that there are other things out there."

Darwin Watson, 21, moved here about a year ago from Bridgeton to be closer to his job in Philadelphia and to share an apartment with his cousin.

Walker, who is black, said Maple Shade is not as diverse as his hometown but is a town that's welcoming and easy to move into.

"It's a good town, I guess. It's close to the city, you know. We've got a nice apartment. People are all right."